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The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Calls to the National Rape Crisis Helpline exceed 20,000 for the first time
CALLS TO THE National Rape Crisis Helpline broke the 20,000 mark for the first time last year. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) operates the 24-hour helpline to support anyone impacted by sexual violence in any part of the country. Contacts with the helpline increased by over 20% last year when compared to 2023, to reach a record-high of 22,700. The figures are contains in the DRCC's annual report for 2024, which will be published later. Chief Executive of the DRCC, Rachel Morrogh, remarked that there is 'likely a number of drivers behind the increased demand for our 24-hour listening service'. She said this includes 'survivors feeling increasingly confident about where to find non-judgmental support, but also the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland'. 'Although we are encouraged by the marked rise in the number of survivors contacting us,' said Morrogh, 'we know that this is a fraction of the thousands of people living with trauma who have not yet sought support. 'Our message to them today is that they are not invisible to us, that they deserve support, and that when they feel ready to talk, we are ready to listen.' However, the sharpest increase in activity across the DRCC's frontline supports was within its therapy service. DRCC's counsellors held almost 6,000 counselling sessions with survivors, an increase of 57% compared to 2023. Advertisement Some 637 men and women were also supported by specialised counselling. The number of therapy clients meanwhile increased by 28%, or 140 people. Morrogh also remarked that the Central Statistics Office has reported that 'tiny numbers of people who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime have reported it to the Gardai'. 'There are many reasons for this, ranging from a fear of not being believed or thinking they are in some way to blame or that what happened was not serious enough,' said Morrogh. The DRCC also had 287 days of supporting clients for court and other hearings, and Morrogh said the organisation is 'honoured to support our clients through the justice system, which can be a very difficult process for many'. 'Every time there is a conviction and sentence for a sexual offence, we know it is felt as a victory for those who will never have their day in court or have the validation and catharsis of a guilty verdict,' said Morrogh. Speaking ahead of the launch of the 2024 report, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan noted that sexual violence is a crime that has historically been underreported. 'This is something I am committed to addressing, and something that is changing as complainants become more confident in our justice system,' said O'Callaghan. DRCC operates the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 778888 to support anyone affected by sexual violence in any part of the country. A webchat support service is available online at from Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English – more at Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Contacts with Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reach record high
Calls to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reached a record high last year, the organisation has revealed. The almost 23,000 contacts made to the centre's helpline in 2024 represented the highest in the DRCC's 46-year history. Advertisement The figures were contained in the organisation's annual report published on Thursday. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan, who will launch the report in Dublin on Thursday morning, said the figures were 'hugely concerning'. 'Sexual violence is a crime that has historically been under-reported and this is something I am committed to addressing, and something that is changing as complainants become more confident in our justice system,' he said. 'Many of the figures and statistics in this latest report from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre are hugely concerning but I am encouraged that a significant percentage of those who seek support from DRCC also report to An Garda Síochána.' Advertisement Mr O'Callaghan commended the 'excellent work and unwavering commitment' of the centre. Chief executive of DRCC Rachel Morrogh said contacts with the helpline broke the 20,000 mark for the first time in 2024, reaching a total of 22,700. She said: 'In fact, engagement with the National Helpline increased by over 20% from 2023, bringing the number of contacts to almost 23,000. There are likely a number of drivers behind the increased demand for our 24-hour listening service, including that survivors feel increasingly confident about where to find non-judgmental support, but also the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland. 'Although we are encouraged by the marked rise in the number of survivors contacting us, we know that this is a fraction of the thousands of people living with trauma who have not yet sought support. Our message to them today is that they are not invisible to us, that they deserve support, and that when they feel ready to talk, we are ready to listen.' Advertisement Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said the figures were 'extremely concerning' (PA) Ms Morrogh said the sharpest increase in activity across the organisation's frontline supports was reported by its therapy service. 'Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's counsellors held almost 6,000 counselling sessions with survivors, an increase of 57 per cent compared to 2023,' she said. 'Specialised counselling unlocks healing for many survivors of sexual violence and we are proud to have supported 637 women and men last year. The number of therapy clients increased by 28 per cent, or 140 people. 'While many people choose not to make a report to An Garda Síochána about what happened to them, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre therapy clients do so at much higher rates than the national average. The Central Statistics Office has reported that tiny numbers of people who have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime have reported it to the Gardaí. There are many reasons for this, ranging from a fear of not being believed or thinking they are in some way to blame or that what happened was not serious enough. Amongst our new therapy clients last year however, the reporting rate was 27 per cent. Advertisement 'We are honoured to support our clients through the justice system, which can be a very difficult process for many. Every time there is a conviction and sentence for a sexual offence, we know it is felt as a victory for those who will never have their day in court or have the validation and catharsis of a guilty verdict.' – The 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline is available on 1800 778888
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Phone calls and text messages to national rape crisis helpline surpass 20,000 for first time
The national rape crisis helpline received more than 20,000 contacts for the first time last year, underlying the 'scale of our sexual violence epidemic', the charity operating the service has said. Publishing its annual report on Thursday, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) said the number of contacts for 2024 marked a 22 per cent increase on 2023. Of the 22,700 calls and texts to its helpline, more than half (10,727) were from people contacting it for the first time. The charity also noted a 28 per cent increase in the number of people seeking therapy following rape or sexual violence. READ MORE 'More disclosures of rape and sexual violence were made to staff and volunteers than in any of the 46 years for which the organisation has existed,' the report says. Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of the charity, said there were 'likely a number of drivers' behind the increased demand, including survivors feeling increasingly confident about where to find support and the reality that sexual violence is still an insidious and common occurrence in modern Ireland'. As in previous years, most contacts related to rape as an adult (37 per cent), followed by child sexual abuse (28.7 per cent) and sexual assault as an adult (16.3 per cent). [ Younger men more likely than older men to victim-blame women who've been sexually assaulted, says study ] Sexual harassment was cited by 2 per cent of callers. Almost a sixth (16 per cent) of callers did not disclose the type of sexual violence they had experienced Most contacts (85 per cent) were from girls and women, with 14 per cent from boys and men and 1 per cent from 'other'. People in their 30s accounted for 19.3 per cent of contacts, while 19 per cent came from those in their 40s (19 per cent). People in their 50s made up 18.7 per cent of contacters. Those in their teens and 20s accounted for 35.8 per cent and people over 60 accounted for 8.2 per cent. Among the issues that came up 'regularly' on the helpline was of drinks being 'spiked'. Callers expressed 'confusion and anxiety at their lack of clear memory of the abuse'. Some were assaulted while away and had received medical attention and made police reports abroad. Some returned home 'as quickly as possible' to attend a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) in Ireland. The charity recorded 'phenomenal growth' in the number of therapy appointments offered during last year, rising by 57 per cent, compared to 2023, to 5,916. More than half the new therapy clients (55 per cent) had suffered other violence in addition to sexual violence including physical and psychological abuse, coercive control, drink-spiking, trafficking, stalking and threats to kill. 'We have also been troubled and upset to hear anecdotally of a growing number of clients who reference physical restraints being used by perpetrators as part of a sexual assault,' the report says. This echoes findings in the 2023 annual report from the HSE's SATU, which found physical restraints were used in 38 per cent of the incidents they recorded, a rise of 6 per cent compared with 2022. Restraint by the throat was recorded in 77, of 7 per cent, of attendances, the SATU said. DRCC chair Annemarie James called for greater regulation of harmful and misogynistic content on social media platforms. She said there was a need for laws and regulations that 'keep pace with emerging threats'. 'There are real-world consequences of legislative inaction and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre clients are bearing those consequences,' she said. 'The violence, cruelty and harm of online content is informing acts of sexual violence and urgently needs much stronger and braver regulation to better protect people.' The 24-hour national rape crisis helpline can be reached on 1800 77 88 88
Irish Examiner
14-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Prevalence of rape myths is bad news for justice system
Recent years have seen significant developments in social and, consequently, legal and policy responses to sexual violence. Education and awareness initiatives about consent and the availability of victim support services, coupled with legislative reforms which have improved criminal justice system responses to victim-survivors have contributed to Irish society becoming both more aware of the realities of sexual violence and supportive of victim-survivors. However, while progress has been made, recent research commissioned by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) shows that there are still challenges with societal understandings of sexual violence and that further legislative and policy interventions are required to ensure that victim-survivors are encouraged to seek justice in the form of criminal prosecutions. The survey which was conducted by Ipsos on a nationally representative sample of 1,042 people demonstrated some heartening findings. For example, seven in 10 respondents understood the reality that perpetrators of sexual violence are more likely to be known to the survivor than to be a stranger. Further, six in 10 respondents stated that they would advise someone who disclosed sexual violence to contact support services like Rape Crisis Centres. While these findings are positive, there are also some more troubling findings which suggest that prejudicial stereotypes or 'rape myths' persist in Irish society. 'Rape myths' and trials One in five of the survey respondents believed that false allegations of rape are common and one in six said that someone who is raped while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is partly responsible for what occurred. Quite rightly, DRCC states that these findings indicate the need for further awareness and education initiatives about consent in Ireland. However, the persistence of such attitudes in Irish society must also be addressed within the criminal justice system. While these attitudes persist in society, they will also manifest in trials, where jurors will ultimately deliberate on guilt or innocence against a backdrop of their own beliefs and attitudes about sexual violence. While to date there have not been any studies on juror deliberations in Irish rape trials, in other jurisdictions such as England and Wales and Scotland, mock jury research (i.e. research studies which analyse the deliberations of research participants who have observed a mock trial), repeatedly demonstrate that jurors assess evidence not only in accordance with legal rules such as statutory definitions of consent but also against a backdrop of their own (often stereotypical) beliefs of what constitutes a 'real rape' or a 'real victim' of sexual violence. (Left to right) Rachel Morrogh, Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) and Charlene Masterson (survivor of sexual violence) at the launch last month of national research by DRCC shedding light on public attitudes towards and personal experiences of sexual violence in Ireland. File picture: Shane O'Neill, Coalesce. If a juror believes, for example, that false allegations are common or that someone who had consumed alcohol is in some way blameworthy, this will necessarily (and ultimately prejudicially) colour their interpretation of evidence in a trial. In light of the continuing persistence of stereotypes about sexual violence in Irish society, the legal system must respond and recognise the potential impact on the trial process. Juror guidance A legislative definition of consent which was introduced in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 goes some way to ensuring that jurors understand the requirements for a legally valid consent to sexual activity. However, the legislative definition in itself is not enough to ensure comprehension and counteract the impact of stereotypes on juror deliberations. In other jurisdictions, judges are issued with specific guidance on consent and avoiding reliance on stereotypes in their deliberations. Judges can use such guidance to instruct jurors in a straightforward and neutral manner during the trial process. Research which I conducted with legal professionals and court accompaniment workers who work in Irish rape trials suggested that such guidance would be useful in Irish trials and that judges could issue such instructions either at the outset of the trial or when they are summing up the evidence for jurors before they proceed to their deliberations. Such guidance would provide a direct response to the stereotypical attitudes about sexual offences which the DRCC research indicates continue to linger in Irish societal consciousness. Perception of sex offence trials Key findings from the DRCC research which require a direct response from the criminal justice system are the public perception of the trial process as particularly gruelling in sexual offence cases, victim-survivor fears about being believed and knowledge about the availability of support services. Eight in 10 respondents identified the fear of not being believed as the primary barrier to accessing support. Over four in 10 indicated a lack of knowledge about available support services. There is no doubt that the criminal justice process is a very challenging one for victim-survivors of sexual violence. No matter how well the system operates, they are still required to discuss highly personal and traumatic experiences throughout the investigation and trial process, a process which is entirely alien to most of those who come into contact with it. However, all victims of crime now have legal rights to information, support and protection throughout their engagement with the criminal justice system. Indeed, these rights apply even where victims do not make a formal complaint and simply wish to access relevant support services. Susan Leahy: 'The DRCC's research is an important reminder that there is no room for complacency in our society's response to sexual violence.' It is vital that more is done to make sure that victim-survivors are aware of what they are entitled to and, most importantly, have access to these legal rights as they journey through the criminal justice system. While sexual offence trials are incredibly difficult for complainants, everything possible should be done to ensure that the potential for secondary victimisation by the process is minimised and that they are encouraged to come forward, safe in the knowledge that they will be believed and supported. No room for complacency The DRCC's research is an important reminder that there is no room for complacency in our society's response to sexual violence. Significantly, it also reminds us that law and policy must be continually attuned to the society within which it operates and respond effectively to make sure that victim-survivors receive the justice they deserve and are supported effectively in their pursuit of it. Dr Susan Leahy is Associate Professor in the School of Law and Director of the Centre for Crime, Justice and Victim Studies at University of Limerick
